Fan Fiction ❯ The Birth Of Cain - Act I ❯ Family Ties ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter III

 

"Wait, please, sir!" But Cain was already gone. The girl sighed.

 

--

 

Cain was sitting on the cliff, drinking his sake from the dish he always carried. "Good sake..." He said to himself and put the dish away. He then opened the sash of opium he was given at Heion, put it in his pipe and lit it. Inhaling long and deep, he thought of what had happened recently. Something strange was afoot in the world. Many things changing to the worse, irrational actions of youkai... The world was nearing the state of complete chaos, an omen of evil. All of a sudden Cain froze, and slightly turned his head, as if looking back. "Wha...?"

A wind rose and Cain jumped to his feet. The cliff was very high; the drop off it to the river was a long, long fall. He looked into the distance, just like before he fought the ice drake. Someone was approaching quickly. Suddenly Cain jumped sideways, a powerful energy blast just missing him. It wasn't colored like most; it looked more like a large moving mass of hot air, because it deformed view when looked through. The attack blasted a large hole at the very edge of the cliff. A little further from Cain stood a man, very similar to Kimari. The man was also very tall and massive, grim and strong. In his left hand he bore a sword larger than Kimari's, only that the handle looked alive, it was like of flesh, and at the very end of the hilt was an eye, a large red eye focused on Cain. The stranger wore the same clothes Kimari wore the day he died. His face was also much like Kimari's, the only difference being this fighter's having an "M" on his forehead, the same color of his green eyes. "Are you Cain?"

"Yes."

"Then you must know who I am," the stranger said.

"Are you Kitaeru?"

"Yes, and I am here to avenge my brother," Kitaeru said.

"I thought you hated Kimari."

"I did, and still do. I can't forgive him the fact of being a descendant of our clan, but despite the fact, he was my brother. To keep my honor intact, I must kill the one who defeated him."

"And then my brother will be going after you. Then the descendants of your clan will hunt mine, and so it will never end."

"That may be the case, but it is not for us to decide. And, honestly, I don't see much future in your clan. Cain, prepare!" Cain drew his sword and took his fighting stance. With a shout Kitaeru took the monstrous sword in both hands and ran at Cain. The first blow knocked him back a little, but Cain quickly retaliated, swinging at Kitaeru three times, making him step back. Kitaeru came at Cain swinging constantly; Cain just evaded the blows, jumping out of the way. Kitaeru suddenly appeared right beside Cain and swung sideways, and taken by surprise, Cain was knocked off his feet even through his block. But Cain jumped up quickly end began his own barrage of attacks. But, despise the size of his sword, Kitaeru was able to deflect every attack, then suddenly punched Cain, knocking him back.

"Dammit! Judai Toranpu!" Cain swore and launched one of his attacks, but Kitaeru easily broke the card.

"Dobutsu Hoegoe!" he shouted and fired another one of those energy attacks. Cain fired another Judai Toranpu, but it broke when it hit Kitaeru's attack. Cain was hit in the chest by the attack and thrown back to the very edge of the cliff. "That should be the end o..." but Cain quickly jumped back to his feet, preparing to attack again. "How?" Cain was panting slightly, his robe smoking from the last attack. Kitaeru smiled. "I see, so it's the Robe of the Black Drake? I find it strange for your kind to be wearing one of those."

"It does the job," Cain said and began another aggressive attack. Exchanging swings and blows, the two fighters fought constantly, seeming to have no limit to their energy. "Uchimakasu!" Cain shouted and attacked Kitaeru, who parried the attack, and, as soon as he did, the red eye began shining. With that, Cain's blade stopped glowing, and Kitaeru smiled.

"Strong technique, let me try! Uchimakasu!" Kitaeru now shouted and his blade began glowing green. As he swung, the attack totally blasted Cain away. He flew backwards for over 40 feet, before landing on his feet.

"Shit, how did he... the sword? Dammit, why does everybody have a great sword but me?! Feh!" Cain cursed and attacked Kitaeru yet again. 'It's a risk, but it's the only chance I've got. I can't use the Ryu now...' "Uchimakasu Tosshin!" In a moment Cain was in front of Kitaeru and began swinging furiously. With trouble Kitaeru blocked the attacks, then, using his free arm, he punched Cain again. Cain moved for the swing to just miss him, but he wasn't stopping his attack. Cain jumped in the air and fired four Judai Toranpus at Kitaeru. After the attacks, Cain came down on Kitaeru with his Uchimakasu. The cliff cracked from the sheer strength of the blow. But still, Kitaeru stood. Cain was running out of strength, he couldn't keep on attacking, but as he tried to step backwards, he noticed that he had landed at the very edge of the cliff, not leaving himself any room to maneuver.

"This is your end, Cain. My Kaibutsuken won't fail me! Kaibutsu Furimawasu!" with that Kitaeru swung and such a wind arose that Cain was taken off the cliff and the entire end of it was destroyed by the attack. Cain's sword slipped from his hand as he fell down, and down, and down.

 

Cain finally hit the ground with a loud thud and a quiet shout of pain. "Shit... that hurts..." Suddenly there was the whistling sound of metal falling, and Cain's sword stuck vertically in the ground, puncturing his left shoulder. Cain shouted out aloud. With a trembling arm he took the blade and slowly pulled it out. Cain was breathing heavily. He turned over onto his stomach, and then tried getting up with both hands. His left shoulder cracked and Cain let out a cry of pain. The sword had gone straight through the bone, rendering his left hand useless. He put his right palm on the ground and threw himself upright. Cain bent down, picked up his sword, sheathed it and began his way along the flow of the river. Yet it wasn't his usual proud, calm, somehow royal, walk. His gait was slow, revealing the damage he had taken, yet determined and somehow dignified.

After walking a long way, leaving the tall cliffs behind, now reaching a beautiful green valley, Cain was coming to the end of his strength. For a time already he was walking using his sword as a cane. Cain dropped to his knees. His view was getting blurry. The sword dropped, Cain passed out.

 

--

 

Cain awoke in a dark room; the rays of the morning sun were shining through the poorly constructed wooden walls of the forest cabin. The cracks weren't too big, yet they were big enough for the white morning light to shine into Cain's eyes. Cain sat up in his bed and looked around. The cabin was small, with only a bed, table and small closet, probably containing personal items of the owner. Cain stood up and approached the table. It had new folded clothes, and his black robe beside it. He only now noticed that he was wearing only his bandages, and new ones on his shoulder. He tore them off and looked at his robe. Both the top and bottom half were as new. He looked at the red under-robe. He pondered for a while, then took the clothes, putting his black robe on top of it afterwards. The red robe fit perfectly and couldn't be seen at all under his black robe.

He opened the door and went outside. He had to cover his eyes, for the exit was pointed straight east, and the sun was blinding. As soon as he regained sight, Cain took in the view of a wonderful Eden-like view. He was in a beautiful tropical paradise. There were many kinds of trees and large plants all around him. The air was filled with noises of the jungle creatures. In the distance there were barren, gray cliffs, forming a half-circle, an enormous waterfall in the middle. The sun was rising just behind them, the sunrays breaking in the waterfall, creating a rainbow. A flock of blue birds flew over Cain's head, sending echoes of their cries throughout the forest. Suddenly Cain turned his head, noticing something approaching. Soon a tall man, wearing a long one-piece robe came out of the trees. He carried a long staff in his right hand. The staff had a bright blue, glowing orb in the end. The man's robe was white, and, for some reason, didn't get dirty as he walked, even through the tropical forest. He had long blonde hair, covering most of his forehead, and part of the cross on it.

"Good morning, Cain! Long time no see, old friend!" the Kaito said.

At first Cain was silent, looking at him. Cain looked away and said: "Us having met before doesn't mean we're friends."

The man smiled, showing pearl-white teeth. "Yes, but I don't think you could call what happened 'meeting before'."

"So, you saved my life, but you requested something in return. I have kept my word. We are even. I have nothing to do with you anymore."

"That was true until yesterday. I..."

"You didn't save my life. It doesn't matter where I sleep, I'm fine by morning."

"Okay, I didn't save your life. But I did mend your clothes and give you a new under robe."

"Feh, I could have gotten those by myself. I have enough money."

"Well, you wouldn't, if I'd have not collected it."

"...Damn. Where's my sake and opium? ...Did you take it?" Cain teased and smiled.

The Kaito only laughed. "You know, that we do not smoke or drink. I collected those items of yours, too," he said and pointed to Cain's left. There was the same river Cain had been walking along. It flowed right by the Kaito's house and further into the forest. Right at the river were Cain's bottle, sash, dish and long pipe. Cain went over to the items, took them and turned to face the Kaito.

"And where's m..." but before Cain finished the Kaito tossed him his sword in the sheath. Cain tied that also to his belt, and then started walking along the river, leaving the Kaito.

"Cain, would you please stay until the evening? There are some things I need to talk to you about. It's important."

Cain kept going. "I'll survive."

"The problem is that you may not."

Cain stopped. "What do you have, that you could offer me? I can get whatever I desire."

"It's nothing anybody else can give."

Cain sighed, dropping his head. He turned around and looked at him. "You better make my time here worthwhile, Kyle."

 

--

 

It was already dark outside. The weak light in Kyle's house barely lit the room. Outside was a pitch black night, the stars were veiled; only the moon could be seen.

"Cain, The Lord spoke to me recently, concerning you and your life. I know that it has been difficult, and you have seen much terror, your true trials have only recently begun. You have a great destiny ahead of you... possibly. Your life will be constant combat. The difference from all that was before is that now you must not only fight for yourself, but for all mankind."

"Why should I give a damn about humanity? They've hated me and my brothers since the beginning of time. They are selfish, evil, wretched, perverted and blind. Why should I fight for them? I have enough troubles of my own."

"Yes, I know. There's more to it. These fights will also be your fights, but..."

"Well then, you don't have to worry about me losing!" Cain said and stood up to leave.

"Cain, please, sit down and let me finish. God has a great plan for your life, but you must go through immeasurable trials, tests and pain. You will suffer much, you will lose much, but if you stay true, you shall receive more than you've ever had. But the road will not be easy. You will be tempted to give up. You shall be broken, and, when you will finally think you've found peace, it will be taken from you. You shall fall into a deeper pit still."

"Yeah, sure," Cain said, annoyed, and was just about out the door, when Kyle stopped him.

"Please, Cain, I can't force you to choose anything, but I can tell you. Jesus loves you. He died for you. God loves you, for he gave his only begotten son for you, so that YOU wouldn't have to perish and go to hell."

"I don't know. Hell sounds like a place I'd feel at home."

"Cain, I repeat, your path shall be difficult. But if you accept Jesus as your risen Lord and Savior, the road shall be easier. And even if you die, you won't go into the abyss. Please, Cain, when your strength isn't enough, remember Him. He shall always be there and never forsake you. Remember God!"

Cain turned his head back, looked at Kyle, then turned back and left the house, murmuring "Whatever," as he left.

"Oh, Cain. You have no idea what lies ahead of you..."

Cain went outside and looked around at the nighttime jungle. It was a lot quieter, yet now there were other sounds. Cain looked up into the black sky.

'I'm not as weak as You think. You'll see, I'll take whatever You've in store. And then, when I've beaten everything you put up against me, I'll laugh long and loud. I don't need You. I don't need ANYBODY!'

 

--

 

Following the river Cain reached the Okan Mountains. The river parted the great mountain, forming two high cliffs and a deep valley between them. In the valley was formed the Okan village. The people of Okan were famous for their well-crafted swords and armor.

Cain was climbing the eastern part of the mountain, when he suddenly felt something in the distance. He spun around and looked for it. Cain hissed and broke into a rush, jumping from cliff to cliff, reaching the split peak of the mountain. Cain looked downwards, and suddenly his eyes and the cross began to shine. Then he heard cries for help, coming from the village under him. "Damn," he swore and jumped head-first off the cliff.

 

--

 

"They have breached the gates! Take cover!" the guard shouted, just before the youkai's sword bust through his chest. The horde of youkai had totally wiped out the town's defenses from the south, and now the people were trapped. To the north was the difficult mountain pass, hard to cross for several men, not to mention an entire village. East and west was the split mountain, and a bewildered youkai army was south. The entire Okan village was pressed to the jagged rocks, the remaining men standing in front, and the women holding the children close and crying.

The youkai army had stopped for a moment, and now were taking in the sight of the frightened people with sick pleasure. The different beast-like faces were grinning, laughing, some were just fanatically shaking. Suddenly the people gasped, and some of the youkai looked up. Cain landed right in the middle of the small group, which had come forward, apart from the others. Cain landed on his sword that he had drawn and stuck through the head of the youkai in the center of the group. Cain straightened upright, not touching the ground yet, then spun around and switched places with the youkai, which was stuck on his sword. Cain, standing only on one foot, swung the sword in a circle over his head, then lowered the sword and knocked the youkai around him down. Cain pulled the sword out of the dead youkai and with swift strokes killed the ones trying to get up.

Cain suddenly launched many Judai Toranpu into the youkai horde, slaying many and forcing the others to step back a bit. Before the army snapped out of the confusion Cain's sudden appearance caused, Cain attacked the youkai in front. One swing and three were dead. Cain began hacking through the multitudes of opponents. All the people stared in amazement as Cain slay hundreds of foes alone. Suddenly the men snapped out of it. "Come on, let's help him!"

"Yeah!" they all shouted and attacked, using whatever they had or found. The youkai still couldn't understand what was going on. Cain was sowing chaos among their ranks. They were completely disordered, screaming, yelling, and killing each other in confusion. Cain almost never blocked a single attack, because the youkai didn't even see him coming.

'What the hell is going on? Youkai bands aren't tactical geniuses, but this... It's pathetic! This is no army... Hell, they have no order or anything... No commander, no flanks. Something is very wrong,' Cain thought as he hacked through the foes. Soon they stopped even trying to grasp what was going on, they just fled, trampling each other, just to get into the narrow pass out of Okan valley, away from the slaughter.

"Come, men, let us give pursuit to the fiends!"

"No, let them go," Cain said.

"But..."

"JUST WAIT!" Cain shouted. The confusion over what made these youkai attack was frustrating Cain. The men stopped and looked at him. All the youkai were jammed in the pass, running away. "...Perfect... Judai na Ame!" Cain shouted, and his sword shone just like when using Judai Toranpu. Cain jumped over ninety feet in the air, spinning. Many Judai Toranpus came out of his sword, but they didn't fly away, they just hung in the air, spinning. When Cain reached the peak of his jump, he turned so he would face the fleeing youkai. Suddenly all the Judai Toranpus broke into shards. Cain swung his sword and they all launched at the enemies. The shards killed every youkai in the pass, then disappeared. Cain landed, sheathed his sword and crossed his hands as usual. The people cheered in victory, a victory Cain had achieved almost on his own.

The remaining youkai bodies disappeared, leaving only the red mist. Cain calmed his breathing, inhaled deeply. 'Here I go again... Haven't done this in a while.' Cain stretched out his open hand towards the red energy rising up and flying away. "Kyushu Suru!" he shouted, and suddenly a strong wind began blowing at him, carrying all the energy to Cain. All the force of the youkai surrounded Cain, slowly spinning around him in a circle. Cain hissed and clenched his fists. Suddenly the energy began spinning faster, and the circle became smaller. Cain winced as the walls of the spinning pillar touched him, but through clenched teeth he endured the pain. The pillar of energy became a beam, going through Cain's head, and he screamed in agony. The beam disappeared and Cain fell to his knees, panting. "Shit... what a ride..." Suddenly something flashed in front of his eyes, something black. The moment it happened Cain felt something immensely evil and powerful. The strangest thing was that it seemed... familiar, and he wasn't surprised to have felt it. Though in a moment he forgot about it and didn't give it any more thought.

Cain stood up and sighed, slowing his breathing, his eyes closed. 'Damn... weaklings. I can't be sure I can take Kitaeru. But what in the world were these... children doing attacking villages...? Bah! Makes no sense...' As Cain was pondering to himself, one of the men approached.

"Sir, we thank you for our lives. Will you please stay with us and let us thank you properly?"

"No, I must go. I have business of my own to attend to," Cain said and started north.

"Please, at least let us give you our gift. The Mithril Sabre is the weapon our ancestors forged to defend the people. It is powerful, yet light. It will not bend or break. I believe this blade would do you more good than it would for us."

"...Whatever," Cain said and stood still for a moment. In a while a young boy approached, holding a sheath with a broadsword. The boy handed the sheath to Cain. Cain looked at the sword in the boy's hands. "I don't fight with double-edged swords."

The man looked away, as if ashamed. "I'm sorry... We do not have anything else... Please, sir, give it a try. You might change your mind!" he said and smiled.

Cain looked at the sword again. He took the sheath, turned the sword around in his hands. Cain drew the sword and looked at it. "It really is light," Cain said with some admiration. The swords blade was one meter long, double-edged. The middle of the blade was flat and had "Okan" engraved. The hilt was black and T-shaped, with dark red orbs at the three ends. The handle was very long, almost half of the blade itself in length. '...Beautiful...' "Alright, I'll take it," Cain said and sheathed the sword, then tied the sheath to his belt, right next to his old sword. The orbs seemed to shine red briefly in return. Cain smiled.